No different than most kids, I dreamt of being a hero as a child—and there was no bigger hero in my life than my father. He often told us stories about the people who were relying on him to resolve their tragedies; I always knew that was the kind of person I wanted to be. After earning my law degree from the University of Dayton in 1991, I joined the firm and began helping those who had been harmed with no place to go for justice.
“That the universe is a communion of subjects rather than a collection of objects is the central commitment of the Ecozoic. Existence itself is derived from and sustained by this intimacy of each being with every other being of the universe.” Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry, The Universe Story
The people who inspire me:
Those who work with emotionally and physically challenged children. They are true heroes.
My advice for young professionals:
Get involved with your community and the people in it as soon as possible.
I like giving back because:
It reminds me that I have opportunities that are not always available to others. It enables me to open doors for people that can lead to them reaching their full potential.
On the weekends you can find me:
At the family farm. I want to step away from technology, clear my mind, and get my hands dirty. Working with the Earth my grandparents farmed, we are growing trees and recovering prairie for future generations. We also grow vegetables, and we are enjoying the best of organic, local sourcing.
Community Involvement
Erie County Board of Health, board member
James H. McBride Arboretum, board member
Areas of Practice
Plaintiffs' trial practice
Personal injury
Wrongful death actions
Mediation
Medical malpractice
Railroad law
Trucking litigation
Admiralty and maritime law
Business and insurance litigation
Certification/Specialties
Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2000 – present
Bar Admissions
Ohio, 1991
U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1992
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1992
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Education
University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio, 1991
J.D.
Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1987
B.A.
Classes/Seminars Taught
Constitutional Law and Civil Rights, guest lecturer
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation-Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, 2018 – present
Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs 2020 - 2021
Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, 2000 – present
Selected for inclusion in the Ohio Super Lawyers® list, 2004 – 2020
National Association of Distinguished Counsel Nation's Top One Percent, 2015
Toledo Business Journal's Who's Who in Toledo Area Law, 2014 – 2020
Professional Associations & Memberships
National College of Advocacy, 2000 – present, Advocate of Trial Advocacy
National Board of Trial Advocates, 2000 – present, member
Erie County Bar Association, member
Ohio State Bar Association, member
American Association for Justice, member
Ohio Association for Justice, member
Cleveland Academy of Trial Lawyers, member
Additional Memberships
Dock of the Bay Marina, managing partner
Erie County Board of Health, board member
James H. McBride Arboretum, board member
Erie & Ottawa Counties Mental Health and Recovery Board, 2013-18
Erie County Public Defenders Board, appointed by the Erie County Commissioners, past president; board member, 1993 – 1999
Sandusky Central Catholic School Board, member 2007 – present; president, 2010 – 2012
Sandusky State Theater Board, 2007 – 2010
Volunteer Center Board, past president, 1994 – 2000
Representative Cases
Erie Capital, LLC v. Barber, 2021-Ohio-2258, 2021 Ohio App. LEXIS 2207, 2021 WL 2710413
Grove v. Rodriguez, 2008-Ohio-2210, 2008 Ohio App. LEXIS 1908, 2008 WL 1990832
Leal v. McClain, 2007-Ohio-1043, 2007 Ohio App. LEXIS 974
Clark v. Forney, 129 Ohio App. 3d 844, 719 N.E.2d 106, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 4555
Gysegem v. Ohio State Univ. Wexner Med. Ctr., 2021-Ohio-4496, 2021 Ohio App. LEXIS 4406, 2021 WL 6063362
Gallagher v. Firelands Reg'l Med. Ctr., 2017-Ohio-483, 75 N.E.3d 1293, 2017 Ohio App. LEXIS 482, 2017 WL 541527
Schmelzer v. Lesar, 2004-Ohio-2435, 2004 Ohio App. LEXIS 2172
Kerger v. Dentsply Int'l, Inc., 2011-Ohio-84, 2011 Ohio App. LEXIS 79, 2011 WL 208300
Cox v. Lippus, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 212047, 2021 AMC 500, 2021 WL 5103803
Sullivan v. Bay Point Resort Operations LLC, 433 F. Supp. 3d 1072, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3362, 2019 AMC 16, 2019 WL 134382
In re Steinle, 835 F. Supp. 2d 437, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142545, 2011 WL 6153122
New Riegel Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Buehrer Grp. Architecture & Eng'g, Inc., 157 Ohio St. 3d 164, 2019-Ohio-2851, 133 N.E.3d 482, 2019 Ohio LEXIS 1446, 2019 WL 3209991
Yuhasz v. Brush Wellman, Inc., 341 F.3d 559, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 17036, 2003 FED App. 0297P (6th Cir.), 57 Fed. R. Serv. 3d (Callaghan) 342, 20 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 585
Wilson v. Mesenburg Bros., 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 413, 1999 WL 63670
Tipton v. PJ's Pancake & Steak House, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 1258, 1998 WL 160054
Oatman v. InfoCision, Inc., et al., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106453 (N.D. Ohio 2013)
Cooney v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 2011-Ohio-105 (8th Dist. Court of Appeals 2011)
Swaisgood v. Puder, 118 Ohio St.3d 445, 2008-Ohio-3177 (Ohio Supreme Court 2008)
Swaisgood v. Puder, 2007-Ohio-307 (6th App. Dist. 2007)
Borda v. Sandusky Limited, 166 Ohio App.3d 318, 2006-Ohio-2112 (6th App. Dist. 2006)
Below v. Dollar General Corporation, 163 Ohio App.3d 694, 2005-Ohio-4752 (3rd App. Dist. 2005)
Karr v. Borchardt, 88 Ohio St.3d 577 (Ohio Supreme Court 2000)
